Despite Official Silence, Elmhurst Parents Press Small Classes

ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst school board remains publicly silent about concerns over elementary schools' class sizes.

But residents continue to voice their opinions during board sessions.

At Monday's special meeting, a few residents urged the board to cut class sizes. A petition has been circulating on the issue, with parents from three elementary schools – Edison, Lincoln and Jackson – expressing the most concern.

During public comments, John Bishof, who ran for the school board in April, has three students in the district, including an incoming third-grader at Edison. He said class sizes of 26 and 27 hurt students, including those with special needs.

"Teachers are struggling to maintain an entire classroom of kids while also providing one-on-one to some of the kids who are struggling and need extra help," Bishof said. "That's pulling all the kids in the class behind."

He noted reducing class sizes was a plank in his campaign.

"I do support increasing the number of teachers in the district," he wrote in a Patch questionnaire earlier this year. "Class size has been increasing, and that isn't good for our students or our teachers. There are many classes at or just below their limit, and our average class size has increased over the past decade."

Katie Cunningham, a parent with students going into third and fifth grades at Jackson, said increasing class sizes will undermine Elmhurst School District 205's good reputation, which has long attracted residents to town.

"Class size is an extremely important factor in student success and education, and it appears that the districts surrounding Elmhurst recognize that," she said.

Third grade seems to be the focus of those concerned about class sizes.

According to state data, Elmhurst's average third-grade class size as of the 2023-24 school year was 21, the same as the state's. Residents at Monday's meeting mentioned Hinsdale District 181 and Glen Ellyn District 41, which have average third-grade class sizes of 17 and 20, respectively.

Patch also looked at third-grade data in five other districts with which Elmhurst likes to compare: Batavia 101 (19), Barrington District 220 (18), Indian Prairie District 204 (27), St. Charles District 303 (23) and Wheaton District 200 (24).